Friday May 09 2008 11:07
E
Everton midfielder Leon Osman is desperate to avoid having to qualify for European football via the Intertoto Cup.
The Toffees will finish fifth in the table and secure the only UEFA Cup qualifying place available via the Premier League should they pick up at least one point from Sunday's final day meeting with Newcastle United.
But defeat for the Merseysiders and a win for Aston Villa over West ham would see the Midlands club leapfrog them into fifth spot and condemn Everton to an early-season series of Intertoto Cup fixtures.
"Sunday's game means everything to us. Not only to make sure we're automatically in the UEFA Cup proper, but we don't really want to be left in the Intertoto Cup," he told the club's official website.
"With that competition, the players have to start back training a couple of weeks earlier and it means competitive football earlier than it should be for the lads, with their fitness levels not quite right by then.
"We really enjoyed our European experience this season and not to have it next term would be a disaster for us.
"With the ability we've shown this season and the quality we've got, and the players we have, we go into Sunday's game with our confidence high.
"If we play to our potential, we should get the result that we require to make sure of fifth and to complete a fine season."
Have your say on this article